SID takes look at fall sports teams

There are big expectations for the OU Football Program this year. The Braves enter their first game on Aug. 29 ranked in both the NAIA and the CollegeFanz.com polls.

OU is coming off of a 8-2 regular season where the Braves finished the season ranked for the first time since 2003. The Braves set several school records and were ranked No. 7 in the NAIA in scoring offense (38 points per game), 8th in total offensive yards (441.2) and were No. 14 in total defense (280.5). OU will have two returning

All-Americans, Taylor Burnett and Ross Diehl. Burnett was also named Sports News Preseason NAIA All-American.

The Lady Braves volleyball team enters the season with their third new head coach in four years. OU will look to build on its ninth place finish in the KCAC last season and will get help with 2007 All-KCAC selection Toni Reynolds. Reynolds is back for her senior season after sitting out last year with a red-shirt. The Lady Braves are young with three seniors, no juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen.

After finishing one game short of qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament the Lady Braves soccer squad will once again be in the mix in the KCAC and for a shot at the NAIA National Tournament. OU returns 10 of 11 starters including three NAIA All-Americans from last year's team that went 14-5-1 overall and 7-2-0 in the KCAC. The schedule will be a tough one for the Lady Braves with the out of conference schedule being one of the toughest in OU history. Four of the teams that OU will play in out of conference are ranked in the NAIA National Poll and five teams went to the NAIA National
Tournament last season.

OU Men's Soccer finished the season by doubling the win total of 2007 and will look to improve on its 9-9-1 2008 record.

The Braves are picked to finish fourth in the KCAC after finishing third, their best finish since the 2005 season. Ottawa returns three All-KCAC selections including first team All-KCAC selection Colin Wylie.